Cathie Batbie-Loucks
Senior Director, Content and Creative Services
KVOA News 4 Tucson
By Steve Rivera
When Cathie Batbie-Loucks was a little girl, she wanted to be on TV for a noble reason.
“My dad was in the military and was overseas,” she said. “I would watch CNN as a little girl in hopes of seeing my father on TV because CNN was the only network at the time that really showed a lot of military personnel in front of a television. I had the hope I could see my dad.”
Batbie-Loucks decided she’d grow up and show “all the other military kids what their parents were doing (overseas),” she said. “That was my goal.”
She started her career in Indiana at WTWO-TV in production, then weekend director and reporter. At KVOA, she’s been a producer, assignment manager, assistant news director and news director before her current post as senior director of content and creative services.
Along the way, she’s worked with Today Show co-host Savannah Guthrie and longtime KVOA reporter Lupita Murillo.
Batbie-Loucks has had an incredible impact in the news business and away from it. In fact, two years ago, KVOA was chosen as an example of a trusted news source for a documentary on eroding trust in the industry.
“She finds the time to serve the community by volunteering her time to sit on boards, commit to the various walks, and collect food for the needy,” Murillo said. “Cathie is amazing and loves her family, the station, and her community.”
She also launched some key projects. Lifesaver is a campaign started 15 years ago after Tucson had a record number of drownings. The program started when her two children were young.
“I’ve always been an advocate for children,” said Batbie-Loucks. “I have always wanted to make the world a better place for them. For me, it was looking around with my teammates and seeing what the problems in the community are and being able to fix them.”
She also started Season for Hope, a gift-gathering effort to ensure Southern Arizona families have toys, food and diapers during the holiday season.
“Those are projects I’m very proud of,” she said. “I think they’ve made a great difference in the community.”
She calls herself an “advocate by trade” helping many nonprofits like Angel Charity for Children, and as an advisory board member for Steele Children’s Research Center.
“You should be part of your community, doing things that make it a better place to live,” she said. “I love this place. I call it my family. I’ve grown up here. I’ve learned a lot here and I am very loyal to KVOA.”
